Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century

The Hoover Dam was an engineering feat- a Depression-era accomplishment that harnessed the Colorado River and gave rise to cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. But the success of the project also represented a shift from the pioneer individualism of America's beginnings to a new ideal of shared enterprise. In his book Colossus, Los Angeles Times reporter Michael Hiltzik chronicles the saga behind the dam's construction and how the effort shaped the nation's sense of identity.